ILR Bulletin, Vol 6 2006
22 June 2006

Print this page

CLJ Law MALAYSIA http://www.cljlaw.com

Introduction:
To get the most out of this law bulletin join CLJ Law Online now - http://www.cljlaw.com/registration.asp
Feel free to forward this to your colleagues. Get this bulletin as email by going to http://www.cljlaw.com/ilrsubscribefrm.asp

INDUSTRIAL LAW  REPORTS ISSUE 3 of 2006

DISMISSAL

Constructive dismissal - Assistant Manager - Misconduct - Domestic Inquiry - Demotion in salary grade - Whether in breach of fundamental term of contract of employment - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Expressway Lingkaran Tengah Sdn Bhd v. Susheela Saminathan
(N Rajasegaran) [2006] 1 ILR 505

Constructive dismissal - Reorganisation exercise - Transfer - Transfer did not affect salary but entailed loss of sales allowance - Whether breaching terms of employment - Whether exercise of prerogative bona fide - Collective agreement - Failure to utilise grievance procedure therein - Effect - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 14, 20(3)
P Malaysia Sdn Bhd & Ors v. Tan Kok Ghee
(Hariraman Palaya) [2006] 1 ILR 551

Constructive dismissal - Resignation - Contractual breach - Whether employer’s alleged breach effective cause of resignation - Whether resignation actuated by opportunity for alternative employment - Whether resignation hasty and premature - Whether leaving employment on own accord - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 13, 20(3)
Bank Pembangunan & Infrastruktur Malaysia Berhad v. Dr Zainul Bahrin Mohd Zain
(N Rajasegaran) [2006] 1 ILR 631

Constructive dismissal - Vice Chancellor - Relieved of duty by way of circular from Deputy Menteri Besar - Whether Deputy Menteri Besar could not take over claimant’s position - Whether act of Deputy Menteri Besar illegal - Whether dismissal unlawful - Proper award - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3) - Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996, s. 33
Universiti Industri Selangor v. Colonel Prof. Dr. Kamarudin Kachar
(Stanley Clement Augustin) [2006] 1 ILR 603

Employer - Rights and power of - Sole proprietorship - Right to transfer employee - Whether could transfer employee within "group of companies" - Whether "group of companies" could not legally exist - Whether transfer in breach of employment contract
Urusreka Architect v. Zaliha Shahrum Taib
(Yeoh Wee Siam) [2006] 1 ILR 658

Misconduct - Absent from work - Absent for two consecutive days - Whether warranting invocation of s. 15(2) Employment Act 1955 - Whether not in breach of s. 15(2) - Whether not in breach of contract of service - Whether dismissal unlawful - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Calberson Helu Zaid Sdn Bhd & Anor v. Sabtu Ninggal
(Soo Ai Lin) [2006] 1 ILR 702

Misconduct - Domestic inquiry - Bank Manager - Processing for payment counterfeit cloned cheques - Failing to verify signatures with customer - Duty to verify lay with subordinate officer - Whether charge not proved - Whether dismissal unjust - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Perwira Affin Bank Berhad v. Ab Aziz Mustafa
(Hj Sauffee Afandi Mohamad) [2006] 1 ILR 607

Misconduct - Marketing Manager - Helping business of other company - Whether misusing position and authority - Whether guilty of gross misconduct - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
CSM Trading Sdn Bhd v. Tan Chai Kai
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2006] 1 ILR 495

Misconduct - Negligence - Negligence in handling cash money - Loss to company - Whether constituted just cause for dismissal - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Alam Arena Management Sdn Bhd v. Alex Veeramuthu
(Yeoh Wee Siam) [2006] 1 ILR 485

Misconduct - Operations supervisor - Breakdown at factory - Failure to act on breakdown chart - Supply of chemical to end users interrupted - Whether causing embarrassment to company - Whether claimant arrogant and defiant - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Merck Electronic Chemicals Sdn Bhd v. Sivananthan Krishnan
(Franklin Goonting) [2006] 1 ILR 473

Misconduct - Silent protest - Wearing protest tags during working hours - Whether warranting dismissal - Whether mere exercise of legitimate rights - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Airod Sdn Bhd v. Mohd Noor Faizal Abd Aziz & Ors
(Siti Saleha Abu Bakar) [2006] 1 ILR 533

Misconduct - Strike - Tow truck drivers - Handling of baggage delivery at airport - Whether an "essential service" - Strike disrupting baggage delivery system - Whether affecting national economy and reputation - Whether illegal - Late payment of salaries by employer - Whether not absolving claimants of culpability - Whether dismissal justified - Industrial Relations Act 1967 ss. 2, 20(3), 43, 44, 45(1)
Kumpulan SF Powertech Sdn Bhd v. Ishak Haji Kamari & Anor
(Syed Ahmad Radzi Syed Omar) [2006] 1 ILR 521

Misconduct - Use of company vehicle - Vehicle involved in accident - Whether use thereof authorised - Whether sufficient ground for dismissal - Whether dismissal too harsh - Whether too drastic and severe - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Ahmad Hafizan Ahmad Hamdan & Anor v. Torino Motor Industries (M) Sdn Bhd
(Mary Shakila Azariah) [2006] 1 ILR 678

Misconduct - Use of company vehicle - Using company vehicle without authorisation - Vehicle involved in accident - Whether sufficient ground for dismissal - Whether dismissal not harsh in the circumstances - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Mohamed Mohd Noor v. 3 OPP (M) Sdn Bhd
(Susila Sithamparam) [2006] 1 ILR 481

Remedy - Principles - Claimant contributing greatly to dismissal - Backwages - Compensation in lieu of reinstatement - Whether to be reduced substantially
Calberson Helu Zaid Sdn Bhd v. Sabtu Ninggal
(Soo Ai Lin) [2006] 1 ILR 702

Resignation - Manager - Whether forced resignation - Not assigned any work and made to sit with general staff - Whether intended to humiliate - Whether unfair and unreasonable - Whether unjust dismissal - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Omron Eletronics Sales And Services Sdn Bhd v. Phoon Wai Kit
(Stanley Clement Augustin) [2006] 1 ILR 572

Retrenchment - Redundancy - Proof - LIFO principles - Whether followed - Company still financially viable - Whether dismissal mala fide - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Siti Zuraidah Ali Murtada & Ors v. Asa Industries (M) Sdn Bhd
(Susila Sithamparam) [2006] 1 ILR 694

Retrenchment - Redundancy - Architect - Whether there was substantial amount of design work left for claimant to do - Whether dismissal unjustified and mala fide - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Urusreka Architect v. Zaliha Shahrum Taib
(Yeoh Wee Siam) [2006] 1 ILR 658

Termination of services - Verbal termination - Absence of notice - Whether claimant resigned voluntarily - Whether dismissal without just cause or excuse - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Speedy Video Distributors Sdn Bhd v. Chia Lai Cheng
(Siti Saleha Abu Bakar) [2006] 1 ILR 594

DOMESTIC INQUIRY

Procedure - Jurisdiction - Duty of Industrial Court - Whether Industrial Court bound to check procedure at inquiry before embarking on its own investigation - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 29
CSM Trading Sdn Bhd v. Tan Chai Kai
(Rajendran Nayagam) [2006] 1 ILR 495

Procedure - Misconduct - Refusal to enter defence - Effect - Whether panel entitled to make finding of guilt - Punishment - Reduction in salary - Maxim nullus commodum capere potest de injuria sua propria - Applicability
Expressway Lingkaran Tengah Sdn Bhd v. Susheela Saminathan
(N Rajasegaran) [2006] 1 ILR 505

Procedure - Jurisdiction - Duty of Industrial Court - Whether bound to check procedure at inquiry - Whether bound to check accuracy of notes taken therein - Properly conducted inquiry - Whether could raise prima facie case against claimant
Merck Electronic Chemicals Sdn Bhd v. Sivananthan Krishnan
(Franklin Goonting) [2006] 1 ILR 473

INDUSTRIAL COURT

Jurisdiction - Dismissal - Minister’s Reference - Challenge against reference - Whether must be taken by way of certiorari in High Court - Minister’s Reference named company as employer of claimant - Whether Industrial Court seized with jurisdiction to hear case - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)
Mohammed Yusoof Muhammad Yunis v. Rabin & Associates
(Yamuna Menon) [2006] 1 ILR 625

Jurisdiction - Threshold jurisdiction - Dismissal - Representation to Director General of Industrial Relations - Whether made within 60-day statutory time limit - Whether violated s. 20(1A) of Industrial Relations Act 1967
LSG Sky Chefs Brahim/Mas Catering Sdn Bhd v. Husain Lee Abdullah
(Hariraman Palaya) [2006] 1 ILR 582

Procedure - Dismissal - Award - Delay of 77 months in disposal of case - Loss of income - Whether loss of income to cover whole period of delay - Whether to be limited to shorter period
Omron Eletronics Sales And Services Sdn Bhd v. Phoon Wai Kit
(Stanley Clement Augustin) [2006] 1 ILR 572

Procedure - Pleadings - Amendment - Application to amend Statement in Reply - Whether necessary for determination of issues between parties - Whether to be allowed - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 30(5)
Medas Corporation Bhd v. Noormawati Mohd Nawi
(Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah) [2006] 1 ILR 616

Procedure - Striking out - Failure to file Statement of Case - Application for reinstatement - Delay - Application made 13 months after case struck off - Whether fatal - Industrial Relations Act 1967, ss. 29, 30
Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia v. Abdul Halim Abd Hamid
(Syed Ahmad Radzi Syed Omar) [2006] 1 ILR 672

TRADE DISPUTE

Collective Agreement - Article 29 - Travelling allowances - Mileage claims of sales staff - Whether employee could claim from 1st kilometre onwards - Whether subject to any deductions - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 33
National Union Of Commercial Workers v. Sanyo Sales & Services Sdn Bhd
(Siti Saleha Abu Bakar) [2006] 1 ILR 546

CASE OF THE WEEK

ERUTHIAM AROKIASAMY v. B M ENTERPRISE SDN BHD

DISMISSAL: Performance - Poor performance - Misconduct - Lorry driver - Dismissed for showing lackadaisical attitude - Whether "lackadaisical attitude" not a form of misconduct - Whether dismissal unjust - Industrial Relations Act 1967, s. 20(3)

ILR Bulletin
To Subscribe/Unsubscribe go to http://www.cljlaw.com/ilrsubscribefrm.asp

Copyright ©1997 - 2006 CLJ Legal Network Sdn Bhd (192353 V)
Email: enquiries@cljlaw.com Phone: 603-4270-5400 Fax No : 603-4270 5401 & 603-4270 5402